FC Dallas ready to challenge Sporting KC

Last week's 1-1 tie with Portland was just not good enough to satisfy FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman. Despite catching the injury bug so early in the season, Hyndman expects his team to perform better at their highest level for the entire game, something felt his club didn't do against the Timbers.

With a good week of training sessions this week, Hyndman is confident his squad will turn it up a notch in their first road game against undefeated Sporting KC (6 p.m. CT/Fox Sports Southwest/Galavision). FC Dallas is out to prove they have the depth to win even without some of their impact players.

"We know it's going to be a difficult game against a very good team that's playing awfully well for being so early in the season," Hyndman said. "We're preparing as best as we can and I'm looking forward to a good game. I think the key thing is to endure the pressure and keep possession of the ball. We can't give away soft goals."

In order to defeat Sporting KC, Hyndman believes the FC Dallas back line will need to blanket the triple threat of Bobby Convey, C.J. Sapong and Kei Kamara. Sapong has already scored two goals this season while Kamara has chipped in one.

Hyndman knows all three attackers can score at any moment but feels like they are prepared after having spent a good portion of the week watching film and analyzing Sporting KC's 4-3-3 system.

"I saw the direction they were going in last year. They're a very good team. I think when you look at some of the things they're really good at, I think one is they're very athletic," Hyndman said. "They have very good fitness. They have very dangerous forwards. They have five guys that can beat you 1-on-1. They just have a great strike force."

On the offensive side of the ball, Hyndman hopes his team can generate enough offense. The head coach admitted that 'there aren't a lot of adjustments you can make when it comes to replacing star players other than replacements such Bryan Levya stepping up.

"You have players on your roster that you have to count on. Bryan Leyva is one of those players. We need guys to move around," Hyndman said. "As I said to the players, it's about getting better. What we're trying to do now is raise everyone's level."